Behind the Scenes with Dona Fragnoli

Kimberley’s A Day Spa stylist Courtney Beck has coiffed several of the HealthyLife cover models this year. She worked her magic once again with our October cover model, Dona Fragnoli.

Beck wanted a “nice, clean look” for Fragnoli since we were going to be shooting at Russell Sage College in Troy. For hair color, Beck chose something with a chocolate base. “It complements and matches her eyebrows,” she says. “It’s subtle but nice.”

Beck offers a tip for home colorists as she dries Fragnoli’s hair: Don’t pull the hair through every single time you color. Do it every three times.

Beck cut Fragnoli’s hair to complement her face. “I didn’t want it too short,” she says. “This gives it a nice, sleek look that shapes her face nicely.” The cut and curl also give the hair additional wave and movement. “More movement is in right now.”

After Beck is done, we move to aesthetician Olivia Allen, who has been with Kimberley’s in Latham for five years. Allen loved playing with makeup as a child — “My mother loved makeup. I got to play with hers.” — and now loves her job helping women look their best.

Allen’s top makeup mistake to avoid? Putting makeup on dry skin. “It makes it flaky and you can see the pores more,” she says. Women tend to also assume more is better, which is wrong. “You don’t need to cake it on,” she says.

Allen offers this secret to perfect eyeliner application: Make sure it’s really sharp and rub it against some paper to make it warm. “The warmer it is,” she says, “the easier it is to get on.” Who knew!

To make your lips look their best, add a little vitamin E before applying your lipstick, Allen says. “It makes sure you have a nice smooth platform for adding color.”

When the Kimberley crew is done making Fragnoli look her best, we head to the Russell Sage College campus in historic Troy. First stop was Bush Memorial Hall, followed by Gail House of the McMurray-Spicer-Gale House and Wool House. Many thanks to the college for hosting us and to Kimberley’s A Day Spa and Boscov’s for making our model look terrific.